Mosiah 9:2 Textual Variants

In the 1920 LDS edition, the superlative greatest was replaced by the comparative greater, giving “the greater number of our army”. Logically, there is no difference between the use of the superlative and the comparative, but in standard English the comparative is preferred since there are only two possibilities for the men in the army: they are either dead or alive.

Elsewhere the Book of Mormon text allows for either the superlative greatest or the comparative greater with the word number:

• Alma 24:28
  • now the greatest number of those of the Lamanites which slew so many of their brethren were Amlicites and Amulonites the greatest number of whom were after the order of the Nehors
• Alma 48:9
  • and in their weakest fortifications he did place the greater number of men
• Alma 57:33
  • they did in a body run upon our swords in the which the greater number of them were slain

The two occurrences of greatest in Alma 24:28 have not been edited to greater. Thus the occasional use of the superlative greatest number does appear to be intentional, and it will therefore be maintained in Mosiah 9:2 and twice in Alma 24:28. For additional discussion of the competition between the superlative and comparative forms, especially with respect to elder versus eldest and younger versus youngest, see under 1 Nephi 16:7.